1
a(1)
: nationality sense 5a
three Slav peoples … forged into a Yugoslavia without really fusing into a Yugoslav nation—
Hans Kohn
Hans Kohn
(2)
: a politically organized nationality
(3)
in the Bible
: a non-Jewish nationality
why do the nations conspire—Psalms 2:1 (Revised Standard Version)
Psalms 2:1 (Revised Standard Version)
b
: a community of people composed of one or more nationalities and possessing a more or less defined territory and government
Canada is a nation with a written constitution—B. K. Sandwell
B. K. Sandwell
c
: a territorial division containing a body of people of one or more nationalities and usually characterized by relatively large size and independent status
a nation of vast size with a small population—Mary K. Hammond
Mary K. Hammond2
archaic
: group, aggregation
3
: a tribe or federation of tribes (as of American Indians)
the Seminole Nation in Oklahoma
Synonyms
Examples of nation in a Sentence
It's one of the richest nations in the world.
the largest state in the nation
The President will speak to the nation tonight.
The entire nation is celebrating the victory.
Recent Examples on the Web
The president of the Pacific Islands nation of Palau, Surangel Whipps Jr., was returned for a second term after a national election held last week, a final tally by the Palau Election Commission showed Wednesday.
—Reuters, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Only 463 chose to die because of a chronic condition, in a nation of 40 million.
—The Week, theweek, 10 Nov. 2024
Michigan’s biggest 2024 election contests The presidential race is looming over the whole nation, but is especially close in Michigan, one of seven key swing states this cycle.
—Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
Republicans want the best for our nation, and so do Democrats.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nation 
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Reuters, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Only 463 chose to die because of a chronic condition, in a nation of 40 million.
—The Week, theweek, 10 Nov. 2024
Michigan’s biggest 2024 election contests The presidential race is looming over the whole nation, but is especially close in Michigan, one of seven key swing states this cycle.
—Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
Republicans want the best for our nation, and so do Democrats.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nation
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Dictionary Entries Near nation
Cite this Entry
“Nation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nation. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nation
noun
na·tion
ˈnā-shən 
2
: a community of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government
3
: the territory of a nation
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